by P.D. Lesko

The complaints are ubiquitous in cities large and small: campaign yard signs go missing. For candidates, missing signs are more than just an inconvenience. Signs are costly, plus the cost of the sign wires. Lima Twp. is a small, agricultural community in Washtenaw County west of Ann Arbor, between Dexter to the north and Chelsea to the south. The Township has a population of around 4,000. The current Lima Township Supervisor is Duane Luick, and he is running for re-election. Luick is being challenged by William VanRiper in the Aug. 6 primary election. Both candidates are running as Republicans. VanRiper contacted the newspaper with evidence that on July 1, 2024 Lima Twp.’s current Treasurer, Nanette Havens, took several of his yard signs.

Republican Nanette Havens has served as Lima Township treasurer for 20 years. She is facing her first primary challenge of her political career in the Aug. 6 primary. Republican Phillip Kwaske is running against Havens for treasurer. 

VanRiper said, “I went to the township meeting about two weeks ago, and there were close to 100 people there. It’s the last meeting before the primary election. I told the Township Board members what happened (including Havens) and said I just want my signs back.”

VanRiper said he has heard nothing from Havens.

Township Clerk, Ann Kwaske, when reached by phone said, “I have had calls from residents complaining about the removal of their yard signs…signs of the challenger for Supervisor. The resident’s signs were removed three times.”

This is precisely what VanRiper said when he was reached by phone. “My signs went missing once. I replaced them. They went missing twice. I replaced them. The third time, however, I placed a trail cam so I could see who it was stealing my signs.”

Clerk Kwaske added, “The Township has an ordinance to help people report illegally placed yard signs. You call the Township Zoning Supervisor (Mariano Sastre). The Supervisor investigates and, if necessary, will remove the sign.”

Screencaps from VanRiper’s video clearly shows Nanette Havens walking up to and then taking his signs from private property.

“I talked to the Michigan State Police,” said VanRiper. “I gave them the video.” A Michigan State Police officer from the Brighton Post responded to VanRiper’s complaint. VanRiper said the State Police said they plan to interview Havens.

Michigan law states: “If the [political sign] stolen has a value of less than $200.00, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00 or 3 times the value of the property stolen, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine.” MCL 750.356(5). An individual who steals political signs from private or public property will be charged with the crime of larceny.  

VanRiper alleges that he also has “eye witnesses” who’ve seen Twp. Supervisor Duane Liuck stealing his opponent’s campaign signs, as well. A message left for Liuck was not immediately answered.

“I don’t want to go down that road,” said VanRiper, a farmer. “I just want my signs back.”

In Superior Twp., Supervisor Ken Schwartz admitted he has been driving around and removing candidate signs placed illegally in the right-of-way, on township property and even on the lawn of the township library. For his troubles, the Superior Twp. Clerk, Dr. Lynette Findley and a candidate for Superior Twp. Supervisor, Irma Golden, swore out complaints against Schwartz with the Washtenaw County Sheriff. Schwartz, in a phone interview, said he was questioned by a Sheriff’s detective, but that nothing came of the women’s complaints.

Nanette Havens did not reply to a phone message and an email sent to her seeking comment. All local elected officials in Michigan take an oath in which they swear to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the State of Michigan.